Brooder



Jan 19, 1932. F. N. FOLSOM 1,841,723

BROODER Filed April 14, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 5 INVENTOR- FREDRICK N. FOLSOM.

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Jan. 19, 1932. F. N. FOLSOM 1,

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FREDRICK M FOLSOM.

HIS 49 TTOPNE'K Patented Jan. 19, 1932 FREDRICK N. FOLSOM, OF SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA BROODER Application filed April 14, 1931. Serial- No. 529,981.

My invention relates to improvementsin brooders wherein a housing, provided with connected having an upper and lower compartments outlet and an intake respectively,

5 operate in conjunction with. an adjustable heatingelement projectable in varying degrees or distances into-or out of said lower compartment whereby'the degree of heat from said element into said lower compartment may be regulated and adjusted.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved brooder for chicks.

Another object is to provide a new and improved brooder for chicks having improved means for maintaining a'constantand unlform degree of warm air within the brooder.

Afurther object is'to provide an improved device of the character described having improved means whereby the degree of heat may be regulated and adjusted. v

A still further object of theinvention is to provide a new and improved brooder of simple, economic and efiicient structurev providing accessibility to the brooder compartment and permitting a constant and uniform supply of warm air to the brooder compartment.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved hollow metallic heating element adapted to be inserted orprojected into and out of the brooder in varying distances or degrees whereby the degree of heat radiated within the brooder by said element may be adjusted and regu lated to provide auniform and constant degree of heat. v I r I accomplish these .and other objects by means of the improved device disclosed in the lil j drawings forminga art of the present apcated;

Fig. 3 is a partly brokenplan view;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the heating element; and

Fig. 5 is an end view thereof.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 is used to designate in general a housing havmg a lower compartment .Zprovided with an intake 3 at one end thereof and having an upper or brooder compartment 3 enclosed by a detachable top 4 provided with a plurality of windows 6 removably mounted within suitable guides or retainers 7, said top 4 being also provided with a flanged outlet 8 to which is detachably connected a converging stack 9, the purpose of which will hereinafter be more fully set forth.

The intake 3 and outlet 8 are preferably arranged at one end of the housing 1 and a screened connecting flue 11 connects the lower compartmentQ with the upper compartment 3 at the opposite end of the housing 1 as dis closedin Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The sides '5 of the upper compartment are detachably connected to the housing 1 by means of tenons 12 fitting into grooves 14: of the housing 1 whereby said side portions 5 may be partially or wholly withdrawn to permit brooding chicks to leave and enter the brooder after having sufiiciently matured.

The housing 1 is preferably divided into upper and lower compartments by means of detachable trays 16 resting upon transverse supports 17, said trays being also utilized for sanitary purposes. Also a tray 18, preferably of screen, is extended longitudinally above the trays 16 upon which the chicks may run, which tray 18 is likewise supported upon the transverse supports 17 and both the trays 16. and 18 may be readily removed from the housing 1 in order to clean or ventilate the device when required, thereby rendering the entire housing accessible for cleaning or other purposes.

A hollow metallic heating element 21 substantially equal in cross section to the area of the intake 3, is loosely inserted within 9 coils 23 extending transversely along the length thereof and are connected to a suitable source of electrical energy, not shown, whereby said coils 23 may be energized and heated to heat not only the metallic element 21 but also to heat or warm air passing thru said element 21 into the lower compartment 2 of the brooder 1. I

Adjacent the intake 3 I have provided a lower baflle 24 of asbestos or other heat-insulating material, upon which rests one or more wires 26 which act or serve as rails upon which the inner end of the element 21 may ride when being moved or adjusted into or out of the lower compartment 2. A second bafile 27 has one end secured to the adjacent inner surface of the housing 1 and freely and slidably rests upon the inner end of the element21 as it is being moved inwardly or outwardly. To further prevent over-radiation from the element from overheating the portion of the upper compartment 3 immediately 7 overhead, a third bafile 28, extending entirely across the lower compartment, may be provided if desired.

The heating coils 23 of the element 21 are electrically connected, in the usual manner, to a source of electrical energy, not shown, and in series with a suitable thermostat 31 within the upper compartment 3 and suitably housed within a housing 32 suitably protected by wire screen or otherwise, to prevent chicks within said compartment from making contact therewith. The thermostat 31 may be of "any desired type and serves to interrupt the energy and prevent overheating of the compartment.

In operation, the element 21 is inserted the desired distance or degree thru the intake 3 and into the lower compartment 2, riding u on the wires 26 and raising the freely mova le batlle 27 during its progress. As the element 21 is heated by the coils 23 it is obvious that a certain amount of heat will be communicated to the metallic housing of said element which will in turn radiate said heat. As the air entering the lower compartment 2 thru the element 21 comes into contact with the walls thereof and the coils 23 said air will be heated and pass into the lower compartment and, traversing the same, will pass thru the screened flue 11 at the opposite end of the housing 1, and thence thru the upper compertinent to the outlet 8 and thru the converging stack 9. The converging stack will tend to retard the passage of air thru the outlet and thereby retain the heat or warm air within said upper compartment.

To diminish the amount of heat supplied, the-fhollow metallic'element- 21 is moved a greater distance exteriorly of the housing 1 thereby permitting some of the heat, by radiation from'the metallic walls of said element 21, to be disseminated to the outer atmosphere. The temperature within the brooder may similarly be increased by projectin the element further into the housing 1 in w ich case a greater amount of heat will be disseminated or dispensed within said housing.

Or, the temperature may be lowered by removing the converging stack which will permit 21- more rapid passing of air thru the brooder with a consequent lowering of temperature. Also, the windows 6 may be partially or entirely opened thereby permitting a more rapid escape of warm air, or the sides 5 may be partially or entirely opened or removed to permit brooding chicks to pass into the open air and return to the brood compartment 3 at will.

When it is desired to clean or ventilate the entire brooder the removable top 4 and the sides 5 may be removed entirely, and by lifting outthe screens 18 and 16, the entire interior will be rendered open and accessible.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is-- I 1. A brooder comprising a housing having connected upper and lower compartments provided respectively with an outlet and an intake; and a hollow heating element substantially equivalent in cross section to the area of the intake and loosely inserted there-' in whereby said element may be inserted within said brooder in varying degrees to vary and thereby regulate the amount of heat passing from said element into said lower compartment. i

2. A brooder comprising a housing having upper and lower compartments connected at one end of said housing and having, respectively, an outlet and an intake at the opposite end of said housing to permit the passage of air through said compartments from the intake to the outlet; and a hollow heating element loosely inserted within said intake and substantially equivalent in cross section to the area of said intake to heat air passing through said element into said lower, compartment, said element being proj ectable in varying distances into said compartment whereby the degree'of heat radiated from said element intosaid compartment may be regulated to adjust the degree of heat within said compart-ment.

3. A brooder comprising a housin having a closed lower compartment provi ed with an intake at one end thereof, and an upper compartment having detachable side and top members, said top member being provided with removable windows and an outlet at the end adjacent the intake of the lower compartment; a screened flue connecting said compartments at the ends opposite the intake and outlet for conveying warmed air from the lower to the upper compartment; and a hollow metallic heating element loose- 1y mounted within said intake and substantially equal in cross section to the area of said intake to warm air passing therethrough into said lower compartment, said element being proj ectable into and out of said compartment in varying degrees whereby the amount of heat radiated from said element into said lower compartment may be regulated.

4. A brooder comprising a housing having a closed lower compartment provided with an intake at one end thereof, and an upper compartment having detachable side and top members, said top member being provided with removable windows and an outlet at the end adjacent the intake of the lower compartment; a screened flue connecting said compartments at the ends opposite the intake and outlet for conveying warmed air from the lower to the upper compartment; a hollow metallic heating element loosely mounted within said intake and substantially equal in cross section to the area of said intake to warm air passing therethrough into said lower compartment, said element being proectable into and out of sald compartment in varying degrees whereby the amount of heat radiated from said element into said lower compartment may be regulated; and a converging stack detachably connected to said outlet to restrict the passage of air through said outlet whereby the passage of heat may be retarded.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto set my signature.

FREDRICK N. FOLSOM. 

